Luyando, Book 1, Episode 6

By Brian Ngoma

LUYANDO: EPISODE 6

BOOK 1 FINALE

Luyando escorted Angela and she felt sorry for her. She knew the girl was new in the city and had no relatives whatsoever. Luyando asked Angela if she had called her relatives to notify them of the situation. Angela said she had but her parents told her that she was getting what she deserved. There was no way they were letting her come back. The two girls exchanged their numbers so that they would let each other know if something came up. Luyando went back home and called Priscila to ask her if she had anything from Tyson but Priscila didn't know anything either. 'He’s a grown up man, he’s probably somewhere drinking off his problems', Luyando thought to herself.

Back at the hospital, grandmother was excited to see her grandson now talking. She knew better not to ask him about what happened that dreadful night. She wanted him to get well and ask him the questions later. 'Iam sorry grandma, I should have listened to you', apologized Josi. 'It's alright my son, you did what you thought was right in that moment, you couldn't have known that this would happen', replied Grandma. 'The guy I saw............. Coughs ...... OH it hurts', complained Josi. 'Say no more', said his grandmother. She told him that he would talk when he was feeling much better. The male nurse badged in. With him was some fruits which he brought for Luyando's grandmother. 'Thanks my dear, you’re really kind', Luyando's grandmother told the nurse, 'You are welcome grandmother', he replied. He checked on Josi and he seemed like he was looking for something or someone. He was really nervous he didn't know how to ask. He was a stutterer. 'Wh.....where is the.... the gi.... rl?', he finally asked. 'You mean Luyando', Luyando's grandmother replied. 'Yes', 'She has gone home it was her turn to go today', 'I ...I .... wanted her to.... to... to sign some papers'. Luyando's grandmother told him that she could sign the papers but he declined claiming that Luyando had to do it. He left a message that she should see him first thing when she comes in the morning.

The previous night, Luyando and Priscila had talked to each other and agreed to go together to the hospital. Luyando went to get Priscila. On their way to the bus station, they decided to pass Tyson's place and check up on Angela and find out if Tyson had come back. They found Angela but Tyson was not yet back. Priscila told Angela to file a missing person report. She told her to go the police station and give officers pertinent information. Luyando asked Angela when he last went missing. To her surprise, it was the same day that Josi was attacked. 'isn't that the same day that Josi was attacked', asked Priscila. 'Yes it is', answered Luyando. 'Who is Josi?', asked Angela. 'My brother', answered Luyando. Angela looked at the two girls confused. she asked them if Tyson knew Josi. 'I don't believe they know each other', Priscila answered. The three of them were silent for a moment. They could not manage to say what was on their minds in that moment. Luyando and Priscila left Tyson's place while Angela looked at them.

The two girls reached the hospital in excitement. Luyando had earlier called her grandmother and she told her that Josi wanted to see her. 'Hey Big bro', she smiled. 'Hi pumpkin', Josi replied. Luyando sat beside Josi and they talked even though Josi was not talking much. Josi was just looking at his sister and thought how foolish he was to do what he did. He imagined how devastating it would have been if something much worse had happened to him. He was glad he was alive and that his sister was there with him. 'Tisa, have you told your granddaughter that the inquisitive nurse was looking for her last night', Josi asked his grandmother. Luyando looked at her grandmother. 'Who was looking for me?' asked Luyando. 'Our nurse', Luyando's grandmother laughed. Luyando was not interested in seeing anyone she was comfortable sitting next to her brother. She told Priscila if she could go and find out why was he looking for her.

Priscila found the nurse at the reception and asked him what he needed the previous night. He explained everything to her and why he needed Luyando. 'Alright I will let her know, she'll come to you, she’s just excited to see her brother doing well', Priscila told the nurse. 'It’s Its Its fine, I'll wait for her', the nurse replied. Priscila went back and told Luyando. 'He’s cute by the way', she told Luyando. Luyando looked at Priscila with that look that implies that you have started again. 'What? Iam just saying, and do you know that he stutters? That makes him cuter', Priscila laughed. The two girls were in the hallway. 'There is he', Priscila pointed at the nurse. When he got closer, Priscila said she had to go the restroom. 'you’re lying please stay', begged Luyando. Priscila left regardless. 'I have been looking for you', said the nurse. 'so ud. 'I did as I said, when the man saw me, he also recognized me I could tell. He started moving quickly trying to avoid me, I stopped him. I told him that I knew him but he said he didn't know me. I grabbed him by his hand and he let go. He wanted to run, I jumped on him. We all fell down. Before I could know it, he kicked me on the face. I thought to myself, Iam not going down this way. As he wanted to run, I grabbed his leg and he fell. I got on top of him. I punched him on the face several times. The man was tough, he managed to get up and threw me in the air. I landed with my face on the ground. I could hear him say that he didn't want to hurt me. He didn't know that the business was a sham. I did not care, I stood up and ran at him. I kicked him in the stomach and while he was facing down I unleashed an uppercut to his jaws and he fell'. The police officers laughed and asked 'But why are you the one in the hospital, from the looks of it you did a solid on the man?' Josi continued, 'Wait for it, as he was lying on the ground, I picked up my phone and tried to call the police, I stood on his legs so that he should not run, while dialing I lost focus, whilst he was laying on the ground he kicked me in the balls', everyone laughed. 'I dropped my phone and he pushed me in the drainage and I fell on my back and hit my head. I think that’s how I lost conscious'. 'From what you have told us, the man is also badly injured', said one of the police officers. 'Thank you for the statement Mr. Hero', the police officers mocked him. 'what did I miss', Luyando entered the room. She looked at her grandmother who seemed speechless. Josi on the other hand was smiling and he told her to carry the bags and not worry about grandmother. They left the hospital while Luyando kept complaining that she also wanted to hear the story.

Some days later, Josi was doing much better. He was thinking about going back to work even though the company he worked for gave him a one month leave. Josi was stubborn and he quarreled with his grandmother on almost everything. Luyando would just laugh at them because she knew that’s how they were. 'Your wounds are still fresh and you want to go back to work', said Luyando's grandmother, 'Yes Tisa, Iam going back whether you like it or not', He laughed, 'One of these days you will kill me with your stubbornness'. Luyando was happy that everyone was doing much better. She was proud of her brother that despite being beaten, he put up a fight.

She received a call from Priscila who was excited that she got a job to be on the technical team of the Zambia national volleyball team. 'My dreams are coming true Luyando', she told Luyando. 'Iam happy for you Priscila, I knew you had a knack for this, go go girl', Luyando said. They talked for some minutes and asked each other if they had heard anything on Tyson. Both of them heard nothing. Priscila found out that Angela moved out of Tyson's house and was living with her friend she had recently connected with. The girls felt sorry for her. 'Any news on Mr. stutterer? asked Priscila. 'What news Priscila, get out' Luyando replied. 'I know he likes you', 'So what if he likes me', 'He seems like a good guy and i know nothing about him except that his last name is Muyunda. And did I tell you? 'What? 'He’s been visiting claiming to check on my brother and they seem to get along, they irritate me when they are talking, they make a lot of noise', Luyando said. 'This other day he told me he knows someone from this place but they don't get along, I asked him he said he didn't feel comfortable to talk about it', she continued. 'Iam sure he will tell you eventually', Priscila added. It was getting late and both girls had to prepare supper so they said their goodbyes and hang up the phones.

It was a bit dark outside when Luyando went to get a plate she had left outside. She heard a whisper. She ignored it and she heard it again. She looked where there were some flowers on the fence and could tell there was someone. She got scared and wanted to run in the house. 'It’s me Luyando, its Tyson please don't call anyone', said Tyson. She was relieved to hear Tyson's voice but wondered why he was hiding. He called her and she went towards him. At a distance she could not seem him clearly. As she got closer to him, she could see his face had stitches and was a bit swollen. 'What happened to you Tyson? she asked him. 'It’s nothing, I got into a fight with this person who claimed I had stolen money from him', He replied. Luyando's eyes brightened. It was like she was in a trance. She could not move or say anything. 'What’s wrong', asked Tyson. Tyson could tell that she had become afraid of something and he wondered what it was. 'What is it? he further asked. She didn't answer him. Scared was written all over her face. He tried to touch her and she screamed. 'Help! Help! Help! Tyson got afraid. 'Luyando it’s me Tyson, what is it? he asked. Luyando's grandmother got outside. She could see that Luyando was standing with a man but could not tell who it was. She called on Josi but he was too weak to go outside on time. Tyson started moving backwards. 'You beat up my brother you son of a B@****, she shouted at him. 'What do you mean your brother? Tyson was confused. Luyando heard a car parked outside the fence. Someone entered the yard and it was Nurse Muyunda. 'Muyunda, this the man who beat up my brother', Luyando screamed at the nurse. Tyson was now cornered. He had nowhere to run to. The nurse told Tyson to turn himself to the police. Tyson was confused till he saw Josi come out of the house. It was in this moment that Tyson realized what he had done. 'Mr., let’s go to the police station together', Muyunda said calmly. Tyson was in shock and didn't know what to do. As Muyunda got closer to Tyson, Tyson snapped and hit Muyunda on the face and jumped over the fence to the other side and disappeared in thin air.

Muyunda laid on the ground unconscious. Luyando and her grandmother picked him up and took him inside. Luyando stared at Muyunda as he was slowly waking up. 'What happened? asked Muyunda. 'He escaped', answered Luyando. Josi and his grandmother were in the other room calling the police that they had found the person who beat him up.

Nurse Muyunda said his goodbyes to the family and they thanked him for his courage. Luyando escorted him to his car parked outside the fence. 'Wh.... why was th.... that man here anyway? asked Muyunda. 'It’s a long story, I will tell you some other day', replied Luyando. Muyunda got into his car and waved at Luyando. She realized that she didn't know his first name and was growing very fond of him. She stopped him and asked 'I know this is rude, but I don't know your first name Muyunda', she laughed. 'OH re ...really, anyway I do.... don't even like it', Muyunda told Luyando. 'Come on Iam serious, I would love to know my knight in shining armor', she insisted. 'Alright, bu... but I bet yo.... you won't like it, Iam NYAMBE'...

END OF BOOK 1